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Take the Plunge

When scuba aficionados select the choicest dive locations, the Caribbean consistently makes the cut. The area is blessed with excellent underwater visibility, warm water temperatures and an abundance of marine life and dive sites that appeal to both beginners and seasoned divers. Most impressive is the wide range of treasures to be found: wondrous shipwrecks, dramatic drop-off wall sites, drift dives galore, underwater cave adventures, shore and boat diving.

On the conservation side, the Caribbean is devoted to the preservation of the underwater environment. It has a host of protected marine parks with thriving aquatic life. indeed, the area offers the most varied examples of tropical marine life imaginable, including anglefish, barracuda, crabs, dancing eels, goat fish, grouper, lobster, octopus, parrot fish, seahorses, sea turtles, sharks, snappers, spiny puffers, and stingrays.

Every Sandals and Beaches Resort has dive facilities that appeal to both beginners, who probably don't know a regulator from a wet suit, and experienced certified divers. What does the program include? Just about everything. There's a variety of dives to suit your every whim, a trained professional staff who lead all dives and provide instruction, a high-quality line of Cressi SUB equipment, a resort course for non-certified divers [a fee applies], and PADI (Professional Association of Dive instructors) or NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) certification courses, available for an additional fee.

"We're extremely proud of the professional dive program that we've built over the years," remarks Noylis Amair, group director of water sports for Sandals and Beaches Resorts. "Our aim is to get our guests excited about the program and turn them on to this terrific adventure sport."

The Scuba program is as popular as ever. Approximately 3,000 guests per property take the resort course each year. The three hour class is usually conducted in a separate scuba-certification pool. Lessons include a medical questionnaire, 150-meter swim, basic scuba instruction, and hands-on training in mask clearing, regulator recovery, fin pivot, buoyancy checks, and full-gear swimming. Diving begins the day after course completion.

While enjoying your dive may be the No. 1 priority, safety is just as important. Every water-sports staff member is a certified lifeguard and is trained in CPR and first aid. In case of emergency, hyperbaric chambers are located near every Sandals and Beaches Resort.

Sandals and Beaches also work closely with Divers Alert Network or DAN®, a nonprofit medical and research organization dedicated to the safety and health or recreational scuba divers. DAN provides Sandals and Beaches' dive instructors with training in emergency procedures and oxygen use. Additionally, they conduct medical seminars throughout the year for all dive staff. Special safety events are also on tap. Notable among them is the annual weeklong dive festival hosted by DAN and Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa. The event combines educational dive forums with the chance to scuba dive in exotic waters. Renowned experts address diving safety, medical information, and other dive-related topics such as hazardous marine life and underwater photography.

As the largest dive operator in the Caribbean, Sandals and Beaches are dedicated to protecting the living seas. "We have a mandate to be environmentally responsible and recognize that the sea is a precious place," says Amair. "Sandals and Beaches do whatever it takes to support local marine parks and ensure that environmental sensitivity comes first." To that end, all guests who choose to dive are briefed on the importance of protecting the seas and are advised not to remove anything or damage the coral reefs with their fins. Several resorts also PADI for ongoing beach clean-ups.

So, what are you waiting for? With thrilling night dives, knockout coral reefs, and the finest dive outfit in the tropics, it's time to plunge in and discover the Caribbean's undersea wonderland.

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